despite indications to the contrary

USAGE SUMMARY

"despite indications to the contrary" is a perfectly grammatical and idiomatic phrase that is commonly used in written English.
For example: "The teacher praised the student for his excellent test results, despite indications to the contrary from his past exam grades."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Mother didn't assume I would go to Cambridge or Oxford; she didn't assume I would get to university at all, despite indications to the contrary.

The New Yorker

The VC market is still strong in China, despite indications to the contrary.

TechCrunch

This was despite indications to the contrary, for example, absenteeism and inter-disciplinary staff conflicts from the preliminary qualitative research.

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Media were not allowed to attend Tuesday's meeting, despite earlier indications to the contrary.

The Guardian

Despite all indications to the contrary (an obdurate narcissism, an insistent elusiveness), I conjured him to be the Perfect Lover.

The New York Times - Style

Despite all indications to the contrary, there are other sports and they are producing news of their own.

The New York Times

And Havel, despite all indications to the contrary at the time of Keane's writing, has survived his battle with lung cancer.

The New York Times - Books

The Sudanese government is still refusing, despite earlier indications to the contrary, to allow a beefier UN peacekeeping force to take over from the faltering African Union (AU) one in Darfur.The main pretext for Sudan's government refusing to co-operate is that the Darfur rebels are themselves divided (true) and that one of their two main groups has refused to co-operate too.

The Economist

I feel as if I'm in one of those rom-coms where, despite all the indications to the contrary, and a series of implausible plot twists, everyone lives happily ever after.

Independent

"I believe... absent indications to the contrary, it is something that the president should consider staying with".

Huffington Post

All the while, today's report pointed out, there were mounting indications to the contrary.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite indications to the contrary" to highlight a decision or action taken against the prevailing evidence. This can add emphasis and create a sense of overcoming obstacles or defying expectations.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "indications" always refer to hard evidence. They can also represent rumors, feelings, or subtle suggestions. Ensure the context clarifies the nature of the "indications" being disregarded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite indications to the contrary" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a clause. It introduces a contrast or concession, indicating that something is true or happens even when signs or signals suggest otherwise. Ludwig AI confirms its idiomatic use.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite indications to the contrary" is a useful phrase to employ when you want to highlight a situation where reality diverges from what the signs suggest. Ludwig AI confirms it is correct and idiomatic. Primarily found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, its function is to provide a contrast, indicating that something is true even when evidence might suggest otherwise. To enhance clarity, ensure the context clarifies the nature of the disregarded "indications". Alternatives like "in spite of conflicting signs" or "even though the evidence suggests otherwise" can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of conflicting signs

Replaces "indications" with "signs" and uses "in spite of" instead of "despite", maintaining the core meaning of disregarding opposing evidence.

even though the evidence suggests otherwise

More explicitly states that the evidence points in a different direction, adding clarity.

notwithstanding opposing signals

Uses more formal synonyms like "notwithstanding" and "signals", increasing the formality of the phrase.

regardless of counter evidence

Emphasizes the act of disregarding the contradictory evidence, conveying a sense of defiance.

although the data implies the opposite

Focuses on data as the source of the opposing indications, suitable for technical or analytical contexts.

despite what the evidence may suggest

Highlights the tentative nature of the evidence, implying that it might be misleading.

in defiance of contrary evidence

Conveys a stronger sense of opposition to the conflicting evidence, suggesting a deliberate choice to ignore it.

against all apparent signs

Focuses on the apparent nature of the signs, implying that they might be deceiving.

irrespective of conflicting data

Similar to "regardless of", but uses "irrespective" for a slightly more formal tone.

even with opposing indications

A simpler and more direct way of expressing the same idea, suitable for less formal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "despite indications to the contrary" in a sentence?

Use "despite indications to the contrary" to show that something is true or happening even though there are signs that it might not be. For example, "He remained optimistic, "despite indications to the contrary"."

What are some alternatives to "despite indications to the contrary"?

You can use alternatives like "in spite of conflicting signs", "even though the evidence suggests otherwise", or "regardless of counter evidence" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "despite evidence to the contrary" or "despite indications to the contrary"?

Both phrases are correct, but "despite evidence to the contrary" is more specific and implies concrete proof exists. "Despite indications to the contrary" is broader and can refer to hints, suggestions, or trends, not necessarily solid evidence.

What is the difference between "despite" and "in spite of"?

While "despite" and "in spite of" are often interchangeable, "in spite of" may carry a slightly stronger sense of overcoming an obstacle. Both can be used with phrases like "despite evidence to the contrary" or "in spite of evidence to the contrary".